NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:16:33 +0000http://publicradiotulsa.org
Associated PressAuthorities are investigating after the carcass of a wild hog was dumped in the parking lot of an Islamic center in Oklahoma. Lawton Police spokesman Sgt. Tim Jenkins says security cameras showed a person dropping the carcass at about 2 a.m. Wednesday at the Islamic Center of Lawton, about 75 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. The Lawton Constitution reports that a police sergeant spotted the bloody carcass Wednesday morning and contacted the city's animal control division, which removed the hog. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, prohibits Muslims from eating pork, and pigs have been used to taunt or offend Muslims. Hassan Ahmed, the director of the center, says he's not particularly concerned about finding the culprit and instead wants to educate the community about Islam.Bloodied Hog Carcass Dumped Outside Oklahoma Islamic Center http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/bloodied-hog-carcass-dumped-outside-oklahoma-islamic-center
108708 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 15:10:54 +0000Bloodied Hog Carcass Dumped Outside Oklahoma Islamic Center KWGS NewsTulsa Police say one person is dead in a single car crash on Highway 75. It happened about 4:15 this morning at near the Lewis/Apache exits. The department says the car rolled, killing the driver. The southbound lanes were closed for much of the morning rush. That had much heavier traffic on the Gilcrease and Tisdale Expressways.Crash Kills One Person in North Tulsahttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/crash-kills-one-person-north-tulsa
108707 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 13:58:13 +0000Crash Kills One Person in North TulsaAssociated PressWagoner County authorities say two men have been found dead with apparent gunshot wounds in what investigators say appears to be a murder and suicide. Sheriff Chris Elliott told reporters that officers were called to the Fresh Start Automotive near Coweta about 1:15 p.m. Thursday. The sheriff said 51-year-old Damon Arthur of Broken Arrow and 47-year-old Jerry Jones of Noel, Missouri, were found dead inside the business. Elliott said it appears Arthur shot Jones, who was the owner of the business. Elliott says Arthur then shot himself. The business is on Highway 51, just north of the Coweta city limits.2 Dead at Coweta Area Businesshttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/2-dead-coweta-area-business
108706 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 12:53:16 +00002 Dead at Coweta Area BusinessKWGS NewsThe Broken School board votes in an executive session to terminate its contract with its superintendent. Jarod Mendenhall had been the Broken Arrow superintendent since the summer of 2010. He still had two years left on his contract, but he says it was time to move on. The board issued a statement thanking his for his service.B.A. School Superintendent Outhttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/ba-school-superintendent-out
108705 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 12:46:35 +0000B.A. School Superintendent OutJohn DurkeeIn the local news: Broken Arrow ends its contract with its school superintendent. A new plan is suggested to address Oklahoma teacher pay. A part-time Tulsa Zoo employee is arrested for child pornography.The Top Local News for Friday from KWGShttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/top-local-news-friday-kwgs
108704 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 12:39:41 +0000The Top Local News for Friday from KWGSMatt TrotterSupport for giving Oklahoma’s teachers a raise is high, but proposals on how to pay for it are in short supply. At least one lawmaker has gone so far as to tell his colleagues not to file teacher pay raise bills if they don’t have an identified funding source. One potential source is Oklahoma’s sales tax, which was created for a goods-based economy. OSU economist Dan Rickman said that worked 50 years ago, but now we have a service-based economy. "I think we could broaden that base and bring in a lot of money, and that wouldn't necessarily be raising rates, just kind of broadening it to things that probably should have already been taxed," Rickman said. Support for broadening the sales tax is growing among lawmakers, but that’s partly because cities are starting to eye it as a stable source of additional funding for them, too. While many are on the hunt for additional revenue, Rickman said the state education funding formula is another place to look. Rickman said he often meets peopleOklahoma Economist Suggests Ways to Pay for Teacher Raiseshttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-economist-suggests-ways-pay-teacher-raises
108692 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 21:44:14 +0000Oklahoma Economist Suggests Ways to Pay for Teacher RaisesMatt TrotterThe passage of sweeping federal health legislation with several mental health provisions is being welcomed at the local level. Besides boosting research funding and accelerating drug approval, the 21st Century Cures Act has several provisions to improve mental health care. In the absence of the legislation, Tulsa County has already developed some of the programs the legislation describes. Mike Brose with Mental Health Association Oklahoma said some aim to incarcerate fewer people with mental illness. "A lot of the things that will help support those efforts are in this bill ... , but we have really got a great start through our local Stepping Up Initiative that our Tulsa County commissioners all supported," Brose said. "Over 300 counties nationwide have passed these resolutions, and Tulsa was one of the first in the country." The Stepping Up Initiative calls on public and private groups to work together in diverting those with mental illness away from jail and prison and into treatmentMental Health Association Oklahoma Lauds Passage of 21st Century Cures Acthttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/mental-health-association-oklahoma-lauds-passage-21st-century-cures-act
108691 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 21:34:09 +0000Mental Health Association Oklahoma Lauds Passage of 21st Century Cures ActKWGS NewsThe Broken Arrow School Board will hold a special meeting tonight. It is expected the board will vote to go into an Executive Session. The meeting agenda says: "to discuss the employment contract of the Superintendent of School, and the employment of any certified administrative personnel deemed appropriate by the board" Jarod Mendenhall has been the Superintendent in Broken Arrow since the summer of 2010. The meeting starts tonight at six.B.A. School Superintendent's Contract on Special Board Meetinghttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/ba-school-superintendents-contract-special-board-meeting
108685 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 18:55:08 +0000B.A. School Superintendent's Contract on Special Board MeetingOklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is praising the nomination of her state's attorney general, Scott Pruitt, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. President-elect Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that he's nominating Pruitt to lead the EPA, saying that the attorney general understands the impact that regulations have on the environment and the economy. Fallin, who has also met with Trump to discuss a possible administration job, said in a statement Thursday that Pruitt is a "tireless advocate of the precious balance of power between state and federal governments." Pruitt's nomination was widely criticized by environmental groups, with the Sierra Club saying it was like "putting an arsonist in charge of fighting fires." The club's Johnson Bridgewater tells KWGS, Pruitt is too tied to big energy and will be dangerous for the environment.Pruitt Nomination Gets Mixed Reviewshttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/pruitt-nomination-gets-mixed-reviews
108682 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 18:09:04 +0000Pruitt Nomination Gets Mixed ReviewsAssociated PressAuthorities say no one was injured after three train cars carrying sand derailed from the railroad tracks in northern Oklahoma. The derailment happened late Wednesday in Ramona, about 25 miles north of Tulsa. Ramona police say Osage and Quapaw streets at the railroad crossings are shut down in the town because of the derailment. Tulsa television station KOTV reports that the railroad tracks belong to SEK Railroad. Washington County Emergency Management officials say the derailment damaged the track, but no one was hurt.Train Derails at Ramonahttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/train-derails-ramona
108675 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 17:52:28 +0000Train Derails at RamonaKWGS NewsWe have had a spectacular fire on the city’s south side this morning. Flames engulfed a sprawling, two story home near 81 st and South Sheridan. The residents managed to get out safely. It was a difficult firefight because of the bitter cold. Water was freezing almost as fast as it was coming out of the fire hoses.Fire and Ice Damage a Tulsa Homehttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/fire-and-ice-damage-tulsa-home
108662 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 13:49:56 +0000Fire and Ice Damage a Tulsa HomeAssociated PressAn Oklahoma lawmaker is proposing legislation allowing the governor and top elected officials to carry firearms, placing armed police officers in private schools and slashing the cost of obtaining or renewing handgun permits. Republican state Sen. Josh Brecheen has drafted four gun rights bills ahead of next year's legislative session. Brecheen says laws are necessary to counter what he believes is a constant threat of terrorism carried out by the Islamic State and other groups. Brecheen says having armed officers in private schools could deter would-be mass shooters. But some lawmakers say there are more pressing issues, including a budget shortfall estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. They also must find a way to fund public education and to keep teachers from leaving Oklahoma for better pay.Oklahoma Lawmaker Submits 4 Bills to Expand Gun Rightshttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-lawmaker-submits-4-bills-expand-gun-rights
108661 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 13:41:47 +0000Oklahoma Lawmaker Submits 4 Bills to Expand Gun RightsJohn DurkeeIn the local news: Oklahoma A.G. Pruitt tabbed to head Donald Trump's EPA. A south Tulsa house fire destroys a home. Plans are announced for new life at the Tulsa Club.The Top Local News for Thursday from Tulsa's KWGShttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/top-local-news-thursday-tulsas-kwgs
108660 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 12:46:03 +0000The Top Local News for Thursday from Tulsa's KWGSAssociated PressOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. That's according to a source close to Pruitt. The attorney general has been a booster of the fossil fuel industry and an outspoken critic of what he calls the "activist agenda" of the agency. The Republican also denies the overwhelming scientific evidence that the Earth is warming and that man-made carbon emissions are to blame. Trump is also adding former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to his Cabinet as leader of the Small Business Administration. McMahon and her husband, Vince, founded and built World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.Longtime EPA Opponent Pruitt Tapped to Head Agency under Trumphttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/longtime-epa-opponent-pruitt-tapped-head-agency-under-trump
108644 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 22:28:31 +0000Longtime EPA Opponent Pruitt Tapped to Head Agency under TrumpMatt TrotterCity leaders are asking Tulsans to help support the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma during the sixth-annual Stock the Station food drive. People can drop off nonperishable food at any Tulsa city-county library, fire station, police station or city hall through Dec. 31. The food drive, which benefits the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, began under former Mayor Dewey Bartlett and is continuing under Mayor G.T. Bynum. "One of the things that sets Tulsa aside as a community from, really, other parts of the country and the world is that this is a city where neighbors pull together to help one another when they have a need," Bynum said. The food bank needs items like canned goods, baby cereal and formula, peanut butter, dried beans, and juice. Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Executive Director Eileen Bradshaw said the food drive can be a good teaching moment for families. "This is a great way to get your kids in and meet the police officers, meet the firefightersStock the Station Food Drive Underway, Benefiting Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahomahttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/stock-station-food-drive-underway-benefiting-community-food-bank-eastern-oklahoma
108643 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 22:21:32 +0000Stock the Station Food Drive Underway, Benefiting Community Food Bank of Eastern OklahomaMatt TrotterOne of downtown Tulsa’s iconic art deco buildings is coming back as a 98-room hotel, likely with $1.7 million worth of help. The city council has taken up a proposed six-year property tax abatement for a $24 million renovation of the Tulsa Club Building at 115 E Fifth St. The abatement freezes the property’s taxable value where it is now. City Economic Development Coordinator Jim Coles said the abatement is a useful tool. "All the taxing entities are all aware of it. We all share. We all take our own, individual votes that we want to contribute," Coles said. "It's really empowering us as a local community to try and help spur development. We're not reliant on anyone other than ourselves to make these things happen if we want." All involved entities have signed off on the abatement. Final approval rests with the city council. Since 1997, 19 downtown projects have received such abatements, which must be signed off on by every entity with property tax funding. That includes the county,Tulsa Club Resurrection in Line for $1.7M Tax Incentivehttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/tulsa-club-resurrection-line-17m-tax-incentive
108642 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 21:59:24 +0000Tulsa Club Resurrection in Line for $1.7M Tax IncentiveKWGS NewsThe weather is brisk and so is business at ‘Firewood King’. Chad Click owns the Tulsa company. He says every year, people call when the weather turns cold. He says if you are ordering firewood, be sure it is seasoned. Click uses a special meter to check the moisture content of his firewood. He says for a good burn, you should have less than 15% moisture in your firewood. A rick of his best oak firewood will cost $150 to have it delivered and stacked.Cold Weather Means a Run on Firewoodhttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/cold-weather-means-run-firewood
108627 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 17:53:00 +0000Cold Weather Means a Run on FirewoodMarshall StewartThere have already been cases of carbon monoxide poisonings in Tulsa this year, even though the first bitter cold weather has just arrived. Joe Ringer with EMSA in Tulsa says when homeowners first fire up the heater, it’s a dangerous time if there’s a leak. He says a working CO detector is a good idea to help keep the family safe. He also recommends having a professional check out your heating system. Symptoms of CO poisoning are nausea, headaches, dizziness, and eventually unconsciousness. He says if they appear, get outside and call 911.Cold Weather Means an Increased Risk of CO Poisoninghttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/cold-weather-means-increased-risk-co-poisoning
108626 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 17:45:08 +0000Cold Weather Means an Increased Risk of CO PoisoningKWGS NewsThe head of the Salvation Army in Tulsa is drawing attention to the plight of Tulsa’s homeless. Captain Ken Chapman is ‘living the life’ for the next several days. He is walking 66 miles over the next 66 hours along Route 66. It is an effort to raise $66,000 to help the Salvation Army finance its homeless mission in Tulsa. Chapman says over 300 people spend each night at the Salvation Army's Center for Hope in Tulsa. He says many of those are children. He left Claremore this morning and will be walking to Sapulpa and then back to the B-O-K Center. He will be spending his nights in a cardboard box along the way.Salvation Army Chief Draws Attention to Tulsa's Homeless Issuehttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/salvation-army-chief-draws-attention-tulsas-homeless-issue
108621 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 16:49:13 +0000Salvation Army Chief Draws Attention to Tulsa's Homeless IssueBrad Gibson - Oklahoma WatchEight years ago the state of Oklahoma set a goal to recycling ten percent of its solid waste. Since then, voluntary programs have sprouted up across most of the state ranging from curbside pickup programs to drop-off locations. But is Oklahoma meeting its recycling objective? The lack of firm numbers from the state and the complicated system of determining what is success is leaving the answer an ever moving target. In 2008, Oklahoma set a goal of 10 percent recycling in tons by 2011, but the state has taken no steps to find out if it’s meeting that standard. “We collect no data in Oklahoma (at the state level) about the amount of materials recycled,” said Fenton Rood, Assistant Division Direction with the land protection division of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. With the percentage recycled compared to total waste, Oklahoma City and Tulsa are recycling around 16 percent, according to waste and recycling authorities in the two cities. With two-thirds of the states Is Oklahoma Rubbish at Recycling? It’s All in the Numbershttp://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-rubbish-recycling-it-s-all-numbers
108616 as http://publicradiotulsa.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 13:58:17 +0000 Is Oklahoma Rubbish at Recycling? It’s All in the Numbers